DRINK TO HEALTH

Science says to sip
(much) more tea

The world has been drinking tea for centuries, but
scientific knowledge has only recently caught up with the ancient wisdom of
brewing the beverage. The Washington Post just published an article on the newly proven health benefits of
tea and the ways Americans are shifting their habits accordingly. It turns out
tea consumption is swiftly increasing in the United States, with home
consumption rising over 10% a year for the last decade and 160 million
Americans pausing for a cup of tea every day. What's the reason behind the
trend?

Prevent cardiovascular disease

An epidemiological study
from Taiwan concluded that those who drank 4 to 20 ounces of tea a day were 46
percent less likely to develop high blood pressure, and an American study on chronic disease showed that people
drinking 12 or more ounces a day had about half the risk of heart attack as
people who drank no tea.

Lose weight

A 2004 study with lab
mice discovered that several compounds in green tea helped prevent weight gain
and fat accumulation. A John Hopkins School of Medicine professor also noted
tea's apparent ability to help manage glucose and insulin levels, which aids
digestion.

Prevent cancer

The research is a bit less clear on cancer, though there
have been some promising results in recent years. One study mentioned in the Post article reported that drinking 10 cups
of green tea a day helps prevent multiple cancers, and a review from the Journal of the American College
of Nutrition tied green tea to a lower risk of ovarian, prostate and breast
cancers.

How much tea is enough to see the benefits? “The more tea
you drink, the better. It's astounding, really,” said Thomas G. Sherman, an
associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at
Georgetown University Medical Center who was interviewed by the Post. In many
of the studies, the people who drank the most tea (sometimes upwards of 5 cups
a day) tended to see the most benefits.

Tea masters prescribe anywhere from
two to five cups a day. Scientists have found that adding milk to your tea can
reduce some of the benefits. The drink is generally just as healthy iced, but
only if it's brewed hot and then cooled rather than made with powder.

Follow our blog, Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram accounts for more
information on the health benefits of tea or come in and check out our
selection of over 120 teas from around the world.